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For the 231 Staunton River High School seniors graduating last Saturday during the school's 45th Commencement held at the Liberty University Vines Center, it was a time for remembering the journey and for looking ahead to the future.

This year's graduation theme: "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

And that's what the seniors were urged to do, prior to receiving their diplomas.

Jefferson Forest High School valedictorian Phillip Gorman, and the other speakers during graduation exercises held Saturday at the Liberty University Vines Center, urged classmates to strive forward in the journey that was waiting for them.

This year's commencement theme: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," by Lao-tzu.

"The future is forever long," Stated Gorman, urging each of the 320 graduates to not do anything they will regret later.

Diane Farley stood in shock as representatives from Bedford County Schools entered the lunchroom at Forest Middle School late Wednesday morning.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bobbi Johnson carried a bouquet of flowers and balloons for the Forest Middle School American history teacher ? and the news that she had been chosen as Bedford County's Middle School Teacher of the Year.

"I am totally blown away," Farley said of the honor. "I've had a tough year personally and this is a perfect ending to maybe a new start."

And now, in her 27th year of doing just that, she's also known as Bedford County's Teacher of the Year.

Newman is Stewartsville Elementary's Instructional Technology Research Teacher. She's been at the school for 17 years. On Thursday a surprise ceremony was held for Newman in which the school's students and staff were joined by school administrators and members of Newman's family to honor her.

It was 64 years ago Friday that the Bedford Boys came ashore on a French beach code named "Omaha." As it does every year, the National D-Day Memorial held a ceremony to commemorate the amphibious landing.

Friday was bright and blazing hot, a contrast to the overcast, cold, wet day when the men of the 29th infantry division went ashore in 1944. In spite of the bright weather, there was a somber aspect. Part of this is due to the fact that many of the young men who landed that day never came home. The other is that those who did are now slowly fading away.

A committee charged with looking at Bedford County's zoning ordinance language on religious assemblies held its final meeting last week.

The committee consisted of District 2 Planning Commissioner Lynn Barnes, District 1 Planning Commissioner Rick Crockett, George Nester, director of community planning and several church representatives. The committee has recommended making a religious assembly a use by right in all zones, except for industrial zones. It would also be allowed in industrial zones, subject to a special use permit.

Area residents attending a meeting on the Red Barn, Monday, decided the simpler is better.

The Red Barn is located adjacent to the old county nursing home building on Falling Creek Road. It was built in the 1930s and served the county poor house, which was still in operation there at the time. The building may be a Sears kit barn, although Elizabeth Gilboy, director of Virginia Tech's Community Design Assistance Center, said that researchers aren't positive. She said that they have a Sears catalog from that time that shows a barn with a floor plan just like it.

The first cell tower, located between Chamblissburg and Stewartsville passed with no discussion. The planning commission had unanimously approved it in late April and nobody spoke at the public hearing that preceded the supervisors’ action.

The second cell tower, located 11 miles west of the highway’s intersection with Va. 122 was different. When it went before the planning commission in April, the commission voted 4-3 to deny it.